Result: Croatia held by Azerbaijan in Euro 2016 qualifying

Croatia Held to 0-0 Stalemate by Azerbaijan

A lacklustre performance saw Group H leaders Croatia held to a 0-0 stalemate in Azerbaijan in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday.

BAKU, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A lacklustre performance saw Group H leaders Croatia held to a 0-0 stalemate in Azerbaijan in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday.

The result left the Croatians top of the section with 14 points from seven games, two more than Italy who were playing Malta at home later.

Former Croatia midfielder Robert Prosinecki stretched his unbeaten run as Azerbaijan coach to three games after a well- organized home side, who now have five points but are out of conention, held his compatriots at bay.

The Croatians found no way through a packed Azeri defence and missed their best chance in the second minute, when striker Mario Mandzukic scuffed his shot wide from close range.

Winger Ivan Perisic forced a good save from goalkeeper Kamran Agayev and then hit the crossbar with a miscued cross early in the second half as the visitors piled on the pressure.

Lively 20-year old forward Marko Pjaca, making his first start for Croatia, created a sitter for Mateo Kovacic in the 70th minute but the Real Madrid midfielder missed the target from 10 metres.

Croatia's frustration grew in the closing stages as even the simple passes started going astray and they looked a pale shadow of the side that beat Azerbaijan 6-0 at home in the reverse fixture last October.

The Croatians, who have been deducted one point by UEFA after the shape of swastika was carved onto their pitch before their match against Italy in Split in June, are away to Norway on Sunday in their next qualifier while Azerbaijan visit Malta.

Croatia's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 have suffered a setback with a goalless draw away to Azerbaijan in Group H.

The visitors could have taken the lead with just two minutes on the clock, but Mario Mandzukic fluffed his lines from close range.

Croatia continued to do most of the pressing during the remainder of the first half, though they found it difficult to carve out any clear-cut chances.

A good opportunity fell for Ivan Perisic on 29 minutes when he pounced from close range. However, goalkeeper Kamran Agayev was alert to the danger and kept his effort out.

Azerbaijan forward Dimitrij Nazarov was denied by Danijel Subasic early in the second half before Perisic rattled the crossbar with a stinging drive moments later.

The chances fell for both sides after that, with Subasic thwarting Ruslan Gurbanov and Mandzukic missing a header at the other end of the pitch.

Croatia started to take control during the final stages as Mandzukic's point-blank effort was saved by Agayev before Mateo Kovacic's shot flew the wrong side of the post.

The away side had chances to win the match late on, but Marko Pjaca fired wide after Mandzukic had squandered yet another opening inside the box.